Ukraine sanctions Georgian leaders over crackdown on pro-EU protests Al Jazeera English
Day: December 5, 2024
US official says sanctions possible on Georgia
Michael Carpenter, Special Assistant to US President Joe Biden and Senior Director for Europe at the National Security Council told Global News that he does not rule out the United States imposing new sanctions “to respond to what we are currently witnessing in Georgia.”
Carpenter recalled that, over the past few months, the United States has already suspended $95 million in financial aid to the Georgian government, ended its strategic partnership, and imposed travel restrictions on dozens of high-ranking Georgian officials.
“We have taken steps and do not preclude further actions, including additional sanctions, in response to what we are witnessing,” he added.
When asked about possible sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, he stated that the United States is considering various options but did not specify which ones.
Earlier, US Helsinki Commission Chairman Joe Wilson called for sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, other Georgian Dream party members, and high-ranking officials. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also stated that the United States is prepared to use the tools at its disposal, including sanctions.
On December 5, four main opposition political forces — Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia, Gakharia for Georgia, and Unity-UNM—announced the formation of a joint opposition information center, which they said will start functioning immediately. The center aims to provide the public with accurate updates, and details on the opposition’s actions, plans, and decisions.
At a briefing opposition leaders expressed solidarity with those arrested during the brutal dispersal of protests between November 28 and December 4.
“The regime entered a qualitatively new phase” said Zurab Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, referring to police raids on political and civil organizations the day earlier, On December 4. Japaridze said the police confiscated items, none of which were illegal. He said reports that Molotov cocktails had been found were false and claimed they had been fabricated by the police.
The opposition leaders highlighted the high number of detainees, many of whom have been transferred to regions outside of Tbilisi, due to the overcrowding of the detention centers in Tbilisi, and called for their immediate release. The opposition leaders said that they are committed to challenging the “illegitimate regime” and are pushing for new elections. Levan Tsutskiridze, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia party, called on law enforcement agencies not to “participate in carrying out the illegitimate regime’s illegal orders.”
The ongoing demonstrations in Georgia, marked by excessive use of force by riot police against peaceful protesters, have attracted significant international attention. Lasha Bakradze, a member of the Unity-UNM, said that “the pressure from the West will increase,” citing, in particular, the expected discussions on Georgia at the OSCE ministerial that opened today.
Several international partners, including the Baltic States, have already imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) officials linked to the violence during the protests. Meanwhile, Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, has urged Georgian authorities to respect human rights, particularly the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression. He also called for investigations into the recent brutality by the riot police. The growing pressure from international partners highlights deepening concerns over the state of democracy and human rights in Georgia.
Rallies in Tbilisi and other Georgian regions began on 28 November following PM Kobakhidze’s declaration that EU integration would be suspended “until 2028”.
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Georgia’s opposition comes under attack as leader is dragged from HQ. By Paul Kirby. via @BBCNews https://t.co/LnGkUnTtNe
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) December 5, 2024